These Terms of Service set out the agreement between Cds Family Foundation and each family, volunteer, donor, partner and visitor who uses this website or one of our services. We have kept the language direct so that a household can understand its rights and our limits without legal training. Please read this page together with the Privacy Policy, which explains how information is handled.
By using this website, telephoning the foundation, asking for a referral, applying for a grant or attending a circle evening, you agree to these terms to the extent that they apply to your situation. If you do not agree, you may still telephone us and we will explain how a particular service could be arranged under a separate written arrangement.
1. About these terms
These terms form the basis on which Cds Family Foundation offers its website and its six family support services. They describe what you can expect from us, what we ask of you and how a disagreement will be handled. Where a specific service letter or grant agreement sets additional conditions, those conditions apply alongside these terms and take priority if the two documents conflict.
We may update these terms from time to time as our services change or as the law develops. The effective date at the top of this page shows when the current version took effect. A material change that affects an active household will be communicated directly by email or letter, and we will not apply a new restriction to work already agreed under an earlier version without discussion.
2. Who we are
Cds Family Foundation is a family support foundation operating from 149 Dunblaine Avenue, Toronto - M5M 2S4, Canada (CA). Our general contact email address is service@cdsfamily.buzz and our telephone number is +19706023378. In these terms, the words we, us and the foundation refer to Cds Family Foundation, and the words you and your refer to the family member, volunteer, donor, partner or visitor using a service or this website.
The foundation is not a hospital, a clinic, a law firm, a funeral home or a government agency. We are a community organisation that provides practical help and steady company to households in difficult seasons. Any clinical care, legal advice or emergency response is delivered by the qualified organisation we refer you to, not by the foundation itself.
3. Eligibility and scope
Our services are intended for households in Toronto and the surrounding communities who are caring for a child or adult with high support needs. A person who telephones on behalf of a friend or relative is welcome to ask a general question, but a household file is opened only with the knowledge of the person concerned or of a person authorised to act for them.
We do not discriminate on the basis of nationality, immigration status, language, faith, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or family structure. We do have limits on capacity, and when a service is full we will say so honestly, offer a place on a waiting list and where possible suggest another organisation that can help in the meantime.
You must be at least sixteen years old to submit a message through the contact form. A younger person can telephone us, and we will speak with them and with a caregiver in a way that respects the guidance in the privacy policy.
4. No fee at the point of use
All six services are free to the family that receives them. We do not ask a household to pay for a grant, a referral, a circle evening, a sibling day, an emergency release or a navigation walkthrough. Where a provider such as a counsellor or a sitter is paid, the payment is made by the foundation to the provider and is never recorded as a debt owed by the family.
We will never ask a family for a deposit, for bank account credentials, for a gift card or for payment by a money transfer service. If a message claiming to come from the foundation asks for money or for login details, it is not from us. Please report it to service@cdsfamily.buzz and do not respond.
5. Respite grant rounds
A respite grant round opens on announced dates and closes when the round is reviewed. An application is assessed on the household situation described in the application, the urgency of the need and the availability of funds. A grant is intended for a specific period of rest or practical support and is paid to a provider wherever possible.
An applicant must provide accurate information. If a household receives a grant on the basis of information that is later found to be deliberately false, we may ask for the grant to be returned, but we will not pursue a family who made an honest mistake. A successful application does not create an entitlement to a future grant. Each round is reviewed on its own terms, and returning families are welcome to apply again.
A grant is not a substitute for statutory benefits, employment income or clinical care. We expect a family to use the grant for the purpose described in the application, and we ask for a short confirmation afterwards that the arrangement took place. Where something changes and the plan no longer fits, tell us early and we will adjust the arrangement rather than treat it as a breach.
6. Counselling referral line
The counselling referral line is an information and introduction service. When you call, a coordinator will discuss what you are looking for, check cost, language and location needs and attempt to confirm an appointment with a suitable counsellor. The clinical relationship is between you and the counsellor, and the counsellor is bound by the professional and privacy obligations of that relationship.
Where the foundation agrees to cover a first block of sessions, the number of sessions and the payment arrangement will be confirmed in writing before the first appointment. Coverage ends at the agreed point unless we renew it. We ask for permission to confirm attendance with the counsellor so that we can settle the invoice, and nothing about the content of a session is shared with us.
We cannot guarantee that a particular counsellor will have availability, that a referral will lead to a successful therapeutic outcome or that a service will be free beyond the block we have agreed to cover. We will always tell you what the cost will be before you commit to anything.
7. Caregiver circle evenings
Circle evenings are a facilitated group gathering for caregivers. Attendance is voluntary and a person may leave at any point without explanation. What is said in the circle stays in the circle. We ask every attendee to treat the stories of others as confidential and not to record, photograph or publish another person contributions.
A facilitator may redirect a conversation that becomes unsafe or that turns into pressure on a particular person. A person who repeatedly breaks confidentiality or behaves aggressively may be asked to leave, and we will follow up privately to see whether a different form of support is a better fit. We provide childcare and a light meal where we have said so in the invitation.
Circle evenings are not therapy. They offer company, practical exchange and the relief of being understood. If a facilitator believes that a person needs clinical support, the facilitator will say so gently and offer the referral line.
8. Sibling support days
A sibling support day is for the brother or sister of a child with high support needs. A caregiver must register the child in advance and provide any allergy, medical or accessibility information that the staff need to keep the child safe. We do not provide one to one medical care, and a child with a complex medical need may require an agreed support arrangement before attending.
Children are supervised throughout the day by trained staff and volunteers, and a sign out procedure is used at the door. We will contact a caregiver in an emergency and, where a child is unwell, we will ask for collection. A child may withdraw from an activity at any time and will not be pressured to speak about family matters.
A short written note is shared with a caregiver after a session only where the child agrees. The notes are not a clinical record and do not replace a conversation with a doctor or a counsellor.
9. Emergency family fund
The emergency family fund is a discretionary reserve for an urgent household need such as a heating failure, a transport emergency, a food shortfall during a hospital stay or an accessibility problem that cannot wait. A request is reviewed by two people, and help is usually released within three working days where funds are available.
We may ask for a short written note, the name of the supplier and a quotation where one is available. In an emergency we keep the request minimal. Support is paid directly to a supplier wherever practical. The fund is limited, and a decision to help in one case does not oblige us to repeat the same support in every case.
The fund is not a loan and we do not charge interest. It is also not an insurance policy, a government benefit or an emergency service. If a person is in danger, contact emergency services first. We will help with what follows once immediate safety has been secured.
11. Conduct at the house and online
Everyone who visits the house or joins an online session is expected to treat staff, volunteers and other families with respect. Shouting, threats, harassment, discrimination and physical aggression are not acceptable. A person who behaves in that way may be asked to leave, and we may decide that a different support arrangement is needed.
Food and drink are welcome in the front room. Smoking is not permitted inside the house. Photographs may be taken only with the permission of every person in the frame, and never of a child without a caregiver written permission. Animals are welcome by prior arrangement, and service animals are always welcome.
Online, the same standards apply. Do not post another person story, do not record a session without consent and do not use our website to distribute spam, malware or material that is unlawful. We may remove a message and restrict access where these expectations are ignored.
12. Volunteers and their role
Volunteers are trained members of the foundation team, but they are not clinicians, lawyers, social workers or financial advisers. They work within a written role description and are supervised by the coordination team. A volunteer must not accept gifts of significant value, must not borrow money from a family and must not enter into a private commercial arrangement with a household.
If a volunteer is a friend or relative of a household, we will assign a different person wherever possible to protect both parties. A volunteer who feels unsafe or out of depth during a visit should end the visit and contact the coordination team, and no volunteer will be criticised for doing so.
A volunteer who handles personal information is bound by the confidentiality rules in the privacy policy. A breach of those rules is treated as a serious matter and may lead to the volunteer being stood down while an incident is reviewed.
13. No clinical or legal advice
The foundation provides practical support, company and navigation. We do not diagnose a condition, prescribe or adjust medication, provide psychotherapy, give legal advice or represent a family before a tribunal or a court. Any information on this website is general and must not be relied on as a substitute for advice from a qualified professional.
Where a household needs medical, legal, immigration or financial advice, we will refer to an appropriate professional or service. A referral is not a guarantee of outcome, and the foundation is not responsible for the professional judgement of an independent practitioner.
14. Website use
This website is provided for information and for contacting the foundation. The contact form prepares a message and opens the mail program on your device so that the message can be sent to service@cdsfamily.buzz. It does not store a copy on the website. You are responsible for the accuracy of the message and for ensuring that your own email provider handles it as you expect.
You may not attempt to gain unauthorised access to the website, interfere with its operation, use automated tools to overload it or copy it in a way that misrepresents the foundation. We may suspend access to protect the site or the people who use it. We do not guarantee uninterrupted availability, and we may change or remove any part of the site at any time.
The website is provided as is and as available. We work to keep it accurate, but an error may occur, and a visitor should confirm important details, such as an address or an opening hour, by telephoning the foundation.
15. Intellectual property
The text, layout, design and code of this website belong to Cds Family Foundation unless another owner is credited. The name Cds Family Foundation and the house identity are used by the foundation in the course of its charitable work. You may read, print and share a page for personal or non commercial use, and a partner organisation may quote a short passage with a clear credit and a link.
You may not copy a substantial part of the site, republish it as your own or use the foundation name and identity in a way that suggests an endorsement you have not been given. A family story or photograph is owned by the family and is used by the foundation only with permission; nothing in these terms transfers that ownership.
The structure and code of this website were produced by the developer CDS Family for the foundation. Technical questions about the site should be sent through the foundation contact details so that they reach the right person.
16. Third party services
Our services sometimes depend on a third party such as a counsellor, a sitter, a transport provider, a landlord or a government office. Those parties act independently. We take reasonable care in selecting a provider and in confirming a booking, but we cannot control a provider cancellation, a delay or a decision made by a public authority.
Links from this website to another site are offered as a convenience. We do not operate the destination site and we are not responsible for its content, its availability or the way it handles personal information. If a link leads to something inappropriate, please tell us.
17. Limits of liability
To the extent permitted by law, the foundation is not liable for indirect or consequential loss arising from the use of this website or from reliance on general information published on it. We are not liable for a decision made by an independent provider, a funding body, a school or a government office.
Nothing in these terms limits liability that cannot be limited by law, including liability for fraud or for a failure to take reasonable care of personal information in our custody. We do not exclude responsibility for physical injury caused by our own negligence during an activity we run, and we maintain appropriate insurance for the work we deliver.
Where a loss is caused by a service we provide, our responsibility is limited to the amount we actually spent on that service, or to remedying the service where that is possible. Families are encouraged to tell us about a problem early so that we have the chance to put it right.
18. Indemnity
If a person misuses the website, provides deliberately false information to obtain a grant or behaves unlawfully toward a staff member or volunteer, that person may be responsible for the reasonable costs the foundation incurs as a result. This clause does not apply to an honest mistake, a disclosure made in good faith or a complaint raised through the proper channel.
A family is never required to indemnify the foundation for its own error, and nothing in this section removes the protections described in the privacy policy or the rights a person has under applicable consumer and privacy law.
19. Confidentiality
We treat the information a family shares as confidential, and we expect the same care from a volunteer, a partner organisation and anyone who attends a circle evening. Confidentiality is subject to the limits described in the privacy policy, particularly where a safeguarding concern requires us to seek advice or notify an authority.
Our staff and volunteers sign a confidentiality undertaking when they join. A household may ask who has seen its file, and we will answer. If a family wishes a piece of information to remain known only to one member of the team, we will record the request and respect it where we are able to deliver the service that way.
20. Suspension and ending support
A household may stop using a service at any time, for any reason, without giving an explanation. We will close the arrangement respectfully, remove access to any group space and keep the file according to the retention rules so that returning later is possible.
The foundation may end a specific service where a safety concern exists, where a volunteer has been threatened, where a grant has been obtained through deliberate misrepresentation or where a household and the foundation cannot agree on a workable arrangement. We will explain the reason in writing and, where another organisation can help, offer a referral. We will not simply stop answering the telephone.
If a service ends because a round has closed or a fund is exhausted, we will tell the household as soon as we know and offer a date for the next opportunity.
21. Disputes and governing law
If you are unhappy with a service or with these terms, please contact us first. Most concerns are resolved by a conversation. Write to service@cdsfamily.buzz or telephone +19706023378 and set out what happened. A member of the coordination team who was not involved in the original decision will review the matter.
If a matter cannot be resolved directly, we will consider mediation with a neutral third party before any formal proceedings. These terms are governed by the laws of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable in Ontario, and the courts of Ontario have jurisdiction over a dispute that cannot be resolved by agreement.
Nothing in this section prevents a person from contacting a consumer protection body, a privacy regulator or another authority that has jurisdiction. A complaint to a regulator is not a breach of these terms.
22. Changes to these terms
We review these terms at least once a year. When a change is material, we will update the effective date at the top of the page and tell active households directly. Continuing to use a service after the date of a change means the updated terms apply to the ongoing arrangement, unless you tell us that you do not agree.
An earlier version of these terms is available on request. We keep previous versions so that a family can see what was agreed at the time a commitment was made.
23. Severability and entire agreement
If a provision of these terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in full force and the invalid provision is read down to the minimum necessary to make it lawful. A failure to enforce a provision on one occasion does not waive the right to enforce it later.
These terms, together with the privacy policy and any specific service letter, form the entire agreement between the foundation and a household about the matters they cover. They replace any earlier general statement about the same subject. A variation agreed in writing with the coordination team will apply alongside these terms and will take priority where the two conflict.
24. Contact details
Questions about these terms should be sent to Cds Family Foundation using the details below. The same address reaches the team that can answer a question about a grant, a referral, a circle evening, a sibling day, an emergency release or a navigation walkthrough.
Cds Family Foundation
149 Dunblaine Avenue
Toronto - M5M 2S4
Canada (CA)
Email: service@cdsfamily.buzz
Telephone: +19706023378
Our office is open Monday to Thursday from 9:00 to 17:00 and Friday from 9:00 to 15:00. Messages received outside those hours are read on the next working day. For an emergency affecting the health or safety of a person, please contact emergency services first and then let us know so that we can support the household afterwards.
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